Raymond Smith Partnership wins stables design job for City of London Police’s mounted unit

Raymond Smith Partnership has been awarded a £162,000 job to design a new stables for the City of London Police force’s mounted unit.

The London-based practice was appointed to the role by the City of London last week with the scheme set to combine a vacant plot at 52 Aldgate with two neighbouring properties at 50-51 Aldgate.

The City’s mounted unit has been based at temporary accommodation at Great Scotland Yard in Westminster following the closure of the historic Wood Green police station in 2020.

Square Mile authorities have committed to establishing a permanent base within the City which would allow the unit to be fully located within their own jurisdiction.

The project, which is currently in initial feasibility and site assessment stages, is seeking to create a “unified and functional space” to support the unit’s operational needs, the City said.

The Aldgate site, located on the eastern edge of the City, has been chosen to allow quick access to the Square Mile and to enable rapid deployment of officers for ceremonial duties, crowd management and high-visibility policing.

It also contains sufficient space at the rear of the site to accommodate horse boxes, which are used to transport the unit’s horses to green pastures when they are off duty.

The City said it is also exploring opportunities to build commercial space above the stables. The City said any commercial scheme on the site is subject to feasibility and viability testing but “raises the possibility of raising income, subject to market response”.

Raymond Smith Partnership’s contract is expected to be signed next week with the job set to start on 1 July and last for two-and-a-half years.